All my kids clothes go in the shower EVERY TIME they are washed...nothing goes on the line.

Ive never noticed them shrink, fade, or even get weaker. Still the same as day 1 when they were brand new.

As for washing colours and whites separately....i used to in the start, now everything goes in together, except if its brand new, i make sure the dark clothes are washed on their own for the first few washes.